Cigarette dispenser



y 1962 J. M. SYKES 3,047,192

CIGARETTE DISPENSER Filed Aug. 17, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 4.

INVENTOR JAMES MAX SYKES CM; 6M

ATTORNEYS July 31, 1962 J. M. SYKES 3,047,192

CIGARETTE DISPENSER Filed Aug. 17, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3.

JAMES MAX SYKES BY CM CM ATTORNEYS July 31, 1962 Filed Aug. 17, 1959 J. M. SYKES CIGARETTE DISPENSER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR JAMES MAX SYKES ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofi ice 3,047,192 Patented July 31, 1962 This invention relates to cigarette dispensers and particularly concerns dispensers wherein the cigarette is ignited during the dispensing operation.

It is a major object of this invention to provide a cigarette dispenser in which there is a minimum of moving parts utilized during the dispensing operation and in which electrical contact between the cigarette igniter coil and the power supply is established simply and effectively without danger of the contact members becoming distorted or otherwise requiring repair.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable hand-held dispenser which will eject an ignited cigarette in such a manner that the operator can place the unignited end of the cigarette between his lips without the unnecessary step of removing the cigarette from the dispenser by hand.

In the attainment of these and other objects, the major feature of the invention resides in the cooperating relationship between a pair of metal spring contact strips within the dispenser casing which converge toward the dispensing outlet and a spring biased slideable plate which carries an igniter coil connected to two contact members that fit between the metal contact strips and slidingly engage the strips for continuous contact during at least a portion of the motion of the slideable plate toward the dispensing outlet to ignite and simultaneously dispense the cigarette. The casing is of such a size and shape as to be held by hand and the slider plate is provided with a projection knob so that the dispensing operation can be accomplished by pressing ones thumb or finger against the slider projection knob to move the slider plate.

These and other objects, advantages and features of r the invention will become apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURES 1 and 2 are perspective views of the dispenser embodying this invention in its preferred form and showing actuation of the slider plate to dispense the cigarette;

FIGURE 3 is a section taken on line 33 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a section taken on line 44 of FIG- URE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a section taken on line 55 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a section taken on line 6-6 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURES 7 and 8 show the invention as adapted for use in an automobile wherein the dispenser is mounted on the automobile dashboard by magnetic means; and

FIGURE 9 shows an alternative arrangement for mounting a dispenser in an automobile.

As shown in the drawings, the dispenser casing 1 is formed with an opening 2 on the top side of the casing for the purpose of filling the dispenser with-cigarettes. A cover plate 3 is slideably mounted within the dispenser and beneath the opening for the purpose of simply and effectively closing the opening. The interior of the casing is provided with a cigarette hopper compartment formed of side walls 4, 4, end walls 5 and the interior wall 6 and a transformer housing compartment formed of side walls 4, 4, end wall 8 and the interior wall 6.

Within the casing, a base member 9 is placed adjacent to the wall 12 opposite to the filling opening 2 and is provided with upper surfaces 10, 10 which are inclined downwardly toward a two section channel formed in the base member in alignment with a dispensing outlet 11 with the bottom surface of the channel being formed by bottom wall 12. The first section of the channel which is adjacent the dispensing outlet 11, is formed by a parallel surfaces 13, 13 of the base arms which are spaced apart to receive a cigarette from a cigarette hopper compartment. The second section of the channel is formed by surfaces 14, 14 which converge toward the dispensing outlet.

' Grooves 15, 15 are provided on the under side of the base to receive a slider plate 16 which is biased away from the dispensing outlet by a spring 17. Theslider plate is supported in the grooves by the outside wall 12 which contains a guide slot 18 to receive a projecting knob 19 attached to the slider plate. Also carried on the slider plate is a support member 20 attached to the inner surface 21 to hold an insulating member 22 and the igniter coil 23 which is connected to two contact members 24, 24 mounted on the support member.

Two metal spring contact strips 25, 25 are mounted inside the second section of the dispensing channel approximately contiguous with but biased away from the converging surfaces 14, 14 for continuous electrical contact with contact members 24, 24 during at least a portion of the motion of coil 23. The contact strips are connected by wires 26, 26 to a transformer 27 which in turn is connected to a standard electrical cord 28.

In the embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIGURES 7 and 8, which is designed for use in automobiles, the transformer may be eliminated and the metal contact strips connected directly to cord 29 and a plug 30 which is adapted to be received by a standard cigarette lighter socket on the automobile dashboard.

In this embodiment, the dispenser may be removably' mounted on the dashboard by a magnet 31 attached to the dispenser casing 1 which would be attracted to a metal plate 32 attached to the plug 30.

An alternative mounting for the dispenser as shown in FIGURE 9 may include a plastic bracket 33 which is attached to the dashboard by a suction cut 34 and which is provided with grooves 35, 35 to receive studs 36, 36 on the dispenser casing.

To operate the dispenser, the user merely pushes the slider plate towards the dispensing outlet by pushing the projection knob. This operation brings the igniter coil into contact with the cigarette which has fallen on to surface 21 of the slider plate and pushes the cigarette through the dispensing outlet. At the same time the contact members to which the igniter coil is connected come into partially continuous contact with the two metal spring contact strips thereby closing the igniter coil circuit to heat the igniter coil and ignite the cigarette.

In lieu of the slider plate 16 to support the igniter coil 23, the cigarette may be allowed to fall on to the inner surface of bottom wall 12 after which it will be ejected by movement of the igniter coil toward the dispensing outlet.

I have disclosed but two embodiments of my invention and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention.

Iclaim:

l. A portable device for igniting and dispensing cigarettes comprising a casing having a dispensing outlet, a moveable cigarette receiving slider plate within the casing moveable between receiving and dispensing positions in alignment with the dispensing outlet, an igniter coil mounted on said slider plate to slide along a path above said slider plate toward and away from the dispensing outlet, a pair of metal contact strips disposed on opposite sides of the path of movement of the igniter coil and biased to converge toward the dispensing outlet for connection to a source of electrical energy, and a pair of contact members connected to said coil for continuous engagement with saidstrips during at least a portion of the motion of the slider plate toward the dispensing outlet to energize said coil during said portion of motion to ignite and simultaneously dispense a cigarette, said coil contacting and igniting a cigarette during said portion of motion of said slider plate.

2. A portable device for igniting and dispensing cigarettes comprising a casing haivng a dispensing outlet, a cigarette receiving and conducting slider plate moveable between receiving and dispensing positions within the casing in alignment with the dispensing outlet, at cigarette hopper compartment tapering downwardly to said slider plate, an igniter coil mounted on one end of said slider plate and adapted to move along a path above said slider plate toward and away from the dispensing outlet, a pair of metal contact strips disposed on opposite sides of the path of movement of said igniter coil and biased to converge toward the dispensing outlet for connection to a source of electrical energy and a pair of contact members connected to said coil for continuous engagement with said strips during at least a portion of the motion of the coil towards the dispensing outlet to energize said coil during said portion of motion to ignite and simultaneously dispense a cigarette, said coil contacting and igniting the cigarette during said port-ion of motion of said slider plate.

3. A portable device for igniting and dispensing cigarettes comprising a casing having a dispensing outlet, a cigarette receiving and carrying sliderplate moveable between receiving and dispensing positions within the casing in alignment with the dispensing outlet, a cigarette hopper compartment tapering downwardly to said slider plate, a spring biasing slideable plate toward said receiving position, a pair of metal contact strips disposed on opposite sides of the plate and biased to converge toward the dispensing outlet for connection to a source of electrical energy, an igniter coil carried on said plate for engagement with one end of a cigarette received thereon and a pair of contact members connected to said coil for continuous engagement with said strips during at least a portion of the motion of the plate toward the dispensingoutlet to energize said coil during said portion of motion to ignite and simultaneously dispense a cigarette, said coil contacting and igniting the cigarette during said portion of motion of said slider plate.

4. A portable device for use in an automobile to ignite and dispense cigarettes comprising a casing having a dispensing outlet, means for removably mounting the casing upon the automobile dashboard, a spring biased cigarette receiving slider plate moveably mounted between receiving and dispensing position within the casing in alignment with the dispensing outlet, a cigarette hopper compartment tapering downwardly toward the slider plate, a spring biasing said slideable plate toward said receiving position, a pair of metal contact strips disposed on opposite sides of the plate and biased to converge toward the dispensing outlet for connection to an electrical cord and a plug adapted to be received by a standard cigarette lighter socket on the automobile dashboard, an igniter coil carried on said plate and a pair of contact members connected to said coil for continuous engagement with said strips during at least a portion of the motion of the slider plate toward the dispensing outlet to energize said coil during said portion of motion to ignite and simultaneously dispense a cigarette, said coil contacting and igniting the cigarette during said portion of motion of said slider plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,974,462 Jay Sept. 25, 1934 1,984,070 La Vercombe Dec. 11, 1934 2,074,925 Krause Mar. 23, 1937 2,123,779 Hite July 12, 1938 2,779,501 Alfrey Jan. 29, 1957 

